Owner of wandering cow in Watsonville to be cited, CHP says

WATSONVILLE - A cow owner should expect a ticket for allowing his or her cow to wander onto the road early Monday, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The CHP got a call Monday reporting that a black cow was in the road near Whiting Road and Serpa Lane at the dark, pre-dawn time of 5:41 a.m., officers said.

At 5:43 a.m., dispatchers reported that "no one on Serpa has anything to do with the cow," and that "the cow is actually laying down in the roadway."

Officer Sarah Jackson said an officer "was out there with the cow for quite some time, trying to determine who it belonged to and get it contained. Others in the area reported that this particular cow has been loose several times. As a result, this cow owner can expect a citation."

The CHP plans to cite the cow owner for violating Santa Cruz County Code Section 6.12.120(a), Jackson said. The section prohibits an owner of livestock or other live animals from allowing them to be "at large."

A large animal in the road presents a very dangerous situation for motorists and motorcycles, and the CHP responds to calls of loose animals regularly, she said.

"This is a reminder for drivers and riders to slow down and pay close attention," Jackson said.

At 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a call about two horses loose in the 1500 block of Green Valley Road in Corralitos, she said.